Elderly Man Who Disappeared from Santa Barbara County Found Safe In Bay Area

Posted on Friday, February 17, 2012 3:28pm

A 75 year old Santa Barbara County man who disappeared on Monday has been found safe and sound, in the Bay Area.

James Purcell of Isla Vista was last seen on Monday morning, when someone took him from his senior living facility, to Cottage Hospital for a doctor’s appointment. When the driver returned to pick up Purcell, they learned he never went in to see the doctor.

He was found at a homeless shelter in Berkeley, where he had tried to register himself. Authorities aren’t sure how he managed to get to the Bay Area.